AmpliSens

Enhanced rapid tests for perinatal group B streptococci (GBS) diagnosis in pregnant women and their babies.

The AmpliSens project addresses the development of a rapid and portable molecular test for the screen-out of neonatal sepsis caused by GBS in the blood or cerebrospinal fluid of the newborn, as well as for the screening of pregnant women.

The product developed by the project, AmpliFast, relies on two modules: a battery-operated hand-held thermocycler to perform double-tagging end-point PCR in combination with a rapid diagnostic test platform consisting of a reader and a disposable cartridge.

The diagnostic test is rapid and cheap, requires minimal handling, and can be easily introduced into the general practitioner’s armory for ambulatory screening of infection. This revolutionary approach aims to target interventions and reduce the burden of GBS disease globally, with special impact in low-income countries.

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is one of the main causes of perinatal infections affecting both pregnant mothers and especially their offspring, resulting in a high burden of disease and death in infants, particularly in low-resource settings.

Eurecat participates in the AmpliSens project through the Functional Printing and Embedded Systems Unit, which designs, develops and and fabricates the electronics and the printed sensors. The Product Innovation and Multiphysics Simulation Unit is in charge of the design and development of the mechanical engineering of the prototype.

The AmpliSens project is led by the company BioEclosion and has the participation of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and ISGlobal.